Simplified painting instructions for vinyl doll parts           Print this page                                BACK TO PRINT INDEX                                          

CAUTION.......Do not spray matte finishes on the  vinyl.  This may cause permanent stickiness.
SUPPLIES
Any good brand of acrylic paint.  I use Americana Deco Art in the bottles, but any acrylic paint will work.
Colors:   Medium Flesh or Mocha- White - Black - Dk. Brown - Cadmium or Santa Red
Acrylic Medium (optional):   Deco Art Extender or Jo Sonja Retarder or any acrylic medium to extend the dry time of the acrylics
GOOD BRUSHES:   1/2" to 3/4" wide square flat for base coating.  1/2" & 1/4" to 1/8" wide flat or filbert (cat tongue) for detailing.  A good liner with a sharp point & bristles no longer than 3/4" for control.  Old worn brushes for optional antiquing.
SEALER:
Any liquid brush on water based (acrylic) Satin Varnish to use instead of the sprays.
Spray finishes may cause the vinyl to become sticky.  Sealers or varnishing is not necessary.
OPTIONAL   Antiquing......Bt. Umber oil paint.....odorless mineral spirits or odorless artist oil painting brush cleaner.
      Or Bt. Umber acrylic paint + acrylic medium........Old brush & soft rags.

PAINT  HEAD & HANDS
Using the larger flat brush, base coat the head with two to three coats of flesh color acrylic paint.  Dry between coats of paint.  Keep the paint smooth as you paint.
I have been using Kilz brand FLAT acrylic latex interior wall paint.  It is available at hardware or lumber stores and the store will mix your flesh colors in quart sizes.  Use your regular acrylic paints for blushes and details.  They mix well with the Kilz paints.
This is a great hint if you that paint a lot of heads and hands.  MAKE SURE YOU USE THE FLAT INTERIOR PAINT.  Other brands work as well.

BLUSH & LIPS:
NO PAINT method (for all you "non painters") to blush the cheeks and lips is buy a light red makeup pencil, matte lipstick or stencil creme.  When the face is dry, brush on a coat of water base varnish or sealer.  Apply a small amount of the makeup to the cheeks & lips with a dry brush or your finger (use very little makeup).  Then blend or soften with a finger, dry brush, or paper towel.  When finished, seal with a water based brush on matte varnish.
Paint method:
Moisten the cheek area with retarder or extender.  Mix a blush color by mixing flesh + red & lightly brush on the cheek area.  Wipe the brush to remove excess paint.  Pat blend the edges of the blush to soften.  Repeat with the other cheek.  Brush the color on the lips

DARKEN UNDER EYELIDS:  With a small liner brush, mix water + black acrylic (or black + bt. umber).  With the side edge of the bristles close to the metal ferrule, paint the inside edge of the top eyelids.
EYELASHES (optional)  Drag the bristles on your palette surface to remove most of the paint.  Practice painting lashes on a plastic lid or palette paper.  Too much paint in the brush will make FAT lashes.  Pull some tiny lashes from the corners of the eyes.  Do not put too many lashes or too red lips on Santa so he will not look like he is wearing makeup.
.
PAINT VINYL HANDS   Base coat with a flesh color & let dry per instructions for the head.  Using the same blush method above, pat some color on the knuckles.
 
ANTIQUE THE  VINYL (optional...to create the old weathered look)
Acrylic method:  Seal the vinyl with a brush on a coat of Satin or matte Water Based Varnish & let dry.  Mix dark brown with acrylic medium (40% paint to 60% medium)  Brush over the bisque, then wipe off with a soft old rag to the desired effect.  If the antiquing dries or tacks up too quickly, pick up some of the acrylic medium, and brush on the bisque to re-wet the surface.  Be sure to clean the paint off the eyeballs with a damp brush before the antiquing dries.   When the antiquing is totally dry, brush on another coat of the satin varnish.
Mix burnt umber oil paint with turp (artist oil paint brush cleaner) or mineral spirits (more turp than paint).  Brush on the bisque pieces, let set 5 to 10 minutes, then wipe off with a soft old rag.  Clean the eyeballs with turp or mineral spirits before the antiquing dries. If there is too much antiquing, just brush over the pieces with the turp, & wipe off with the rag. 

Also, remember that you can put an oil base product over any acrylic product, but DO NOT put any acrylic product over an oil based product or paint.
FINISH optional......brush a coat of satin or matte sealer or varnish.

www.diandolls.com